Is it CRAZY to even think about doing this?

[Bubblingbrooks]

We have a mongo heated crawl space. I want to see if a tub of layered chicken poo, leaves and moldy hay will compost down there this winter. This would give me some cooled manure to mix in dirt for getting young plants started this spring.

I am crazy, or should I do a test run?
I mean, its easy enough to chuck it out if it does not work.....

FYI, we raised chicks down there last winter.

 

[CrimsonRose]

is the crawl space connected to your house vents at all? I would worry about mold growth (we all have severe allergies to mold so I'm paranoid) if you could keep a fan on it with good air circulation it might work...

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

is the crawl space connected to your house vents at all? I would worry about mold growth (we all have severe allergies to mold so I'm paranoid) if you could keep a fan on it with good air circulation it might work...

We have no vents. Water boiler for backup and woodstove for primary.
Its totally closed off.

 

[FarmerChick]

for me personally, I wouldn't do it under my home.

too many "who knows what ickys" can come from it lol

but I am the type that protects my home from everything so for me it would never be an option

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

Thanks for the replies so far. I have tried just leaves and hay before with zero results, hence the reason I was thinking about abbing a bit of heat.

 

[FarmerChick]

how about just making the big old compost bin outside like usual mostly.....that way you can keep under your home for some type of storage for supplies or anything else?

under my home I got triple thick plastic and small gravel and I store things like pool stuff etc under there along with other bobs and such. Not much under there but things that can handle the weather etc. and that way i don't fill up the garage or other outbuildings

just a thought

 

[CrimsonRose]

could you just mix it all up with manure and cover it tightly with a tarp and leave it out over the winter? I don't have a ton of compost or leaves but what I do scrounge up I put in 5 gal buckets with some rabbit poo... (buckets have holes drilled in the bottom to let water out) and it composts pretty well that way over the winter... poo helps keep it warm and break it down...

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

could you just mix it all up with manure and cover it tightly with a tarp and leave it out over the winter? I don't have a ton of compost or leaves but what I do scrounge up I put in 5 gal buckets with some rabbit poo... (buckets have holes drilled in the bottom to let water out) and it composts pretty well that way over the winter... poo helps keep it warm and break it down...

Well, see its Alaska we're talking about here.....everything is frozen solid for 6 months

 

[Bubblingbrooks]

how about just making the big old compost bin outside like usual mostly.....that way you can keep under your home for some type of storage for supplies or anything else?

under my home I got triple thick plastic and small gravel and I store things like pool stuff etc under there along with other bobs and such. Not much under there but things that can handle the weather etc. and that way i don't fill up the garage or other outbuildings

just a thought

See post above

 

[CrimsonRose]

could you get one of those black round compost bins that you can rotate? that way most of the icky's from the compost would be contained and wouldn't be molding and spreading nasties through your house? could you rig something like that to contain it in under the house?

Or maybe try a hot frame type deal? pile in the leaves and manure under some windows like a green house? or is sunlight an issue as well?